In 2008, when the Chinese were working overtime to finish the infrastructure in time for the Beijing Olympics, in Bhaisepati on Kathmandu's outskirts Lhakpa Geljen Sherpa's factory was also working overtime. Beijing's Grand Hyatt Hotel had outsourced its designer wall panels to Sherpa Everest Art Paper and that was what his workers were trying to finish. Sherpa's love for traditional Nepali lokta paper began when he was still a boy in Solu Khumbu and his uncle used to lovingly produce the paper, drying the pulp in the sunshine. He had to come to Kathmandu often to make deliveries to customers, and the entrepreneur in him immediately saw an opportunity. After 15 years making paper, Sherpa thought it was time to expand. "Other people were using our paper and doing good business," says Sherpa. "I thought why not begin our own factory and add value to our products". Sherpa launched his small factory in Kathmandu 15 years ago with 12 workers...